Tacoma
What to Know
Average Score
- May 8, 2018
- Fullbright
- Adventure
Critics Consensus
- May 8, 2018
- Adventure
Critics Consensus
# Reviews: 70
A summary of the critical opinion for this game will be provided after release or a minimum of 15 reviews have been aggregated.
Critic Reviews for Tacoma
Reviews
Bronze TIER
45% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100
David Roberts (GamesRadar+)
4/5 stars
“While some of its threads don’t always come together as neatly as they should, Fullbright’s sophomore effort is a quiet and haunting examination of the ways corporations dehumanize us all.”
Andy Kelly (PC Gamer)
84/100
“A smart and thoughtful science fiction mystery featuring a cast of believable, nuanced characters.”
Heather Alexandra (Kotaku)
Recommended
“Tacoma ultimately succeeds as a piece of emotional storytelling. Every moment spent with the crew is spellbinding, as their strengths and struggles play out in painful detail. The experience is sometimes frustrating, but Tacoma leaves a lasting impression.”
Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3DNews | Александр Бабулин | 8 / 10 | 08-11-2017 | Tacoma is a game of hope. Fullbright showed that they are able not only to look into the past with nostalgia, but also instill optimism in our future. Well, this is a rarity in our time, what with all the disturbing news and bad premonitions. Here, space is also a premonition, but a rather bright one. | Read review |
Atomix | Alberto Desfassiaux | 82 / 100 | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma is a great narrative driven game that puts you in the middle of a mysterious space station. From the creators of Gone Home, this a Sci-Fi experience that you should check out. | Read review |
AusGamers | Kosta Andreadis | 7.9 / 10 | 08-10-2017 | Tacoma shines where it counts, and that is with the story it tells and the feeling that each character within it feels real. | Read review |
CGMagazine | Jed Whitaker | 9 / 10 | 08-07-2017 | A diverse narrative-driven space adventure for people wanting actual emotions and relationships in their games; that is Tacoma. | Read review |
COGconnected | Erin Soares | 77 / 100 | 08-09-2017 | Although Tacoma is short, it does a fantastic job telling the stories of the different characters throughout the game, using the non-sequential AR memory recordings to build emotional ties to each. | Read review |
Critical Hit | Alessandro Barbosa | 8.5 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma is a captivating tale that messes with established tropes in a way that Fullbright might become known for. Although it spins its wheels at the start, this slow and methodical journey through the lives of a small group survivors is one with some fantastic twists and turns, and one that should stick with you long after its conclusion. | Read review |
Destructoid | Raymond Porreca | 9 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma gives players a masterfully crafted setting and encourages them to find out what made the people who once called it home tick. Life, even among the stars, can be mundane and familiar but Tacoma’s presentation is nothing short of spectacular. | Read review |
Digiato | Nima Farshin | 60 / 100 | 10-04-2017 | As a whole, Tacoma is a mediocre experience. it could be a successful VR game, but it cannot repeat the unalloyed experience of Gone Home. | Read review |
Digital Chumps | Eric Layman | 8 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | An abandoned space station, impetuous corporate interests, a curious A.I. — Tacoma’s facade floats between charming futurism and abrasive, old-fashioned avarice. This may seem like inhospitable space to explore the depths of benevolence, but the power of identity and humanity are alive and well supported inside of Tacoma’s twirling science fiction architecture. | Read review |
Digitally Downloaded | Harvard L. | 4 / 5 stars | 08-09-2017 | What Fullbright has delivered is rich, affecting storytelling that’s truly worth experiencing. | Read review |
DualShockers | Lou Contaldi | 7.5 / 10 | 05-08-2018 | Tacoma‘s three-hour span was a delightful experience, and I can see myself booting it up once or twice more to comb through the space station. And while this game cements Fullbright as a leading voice in the storytelling, first-person-experience genre, it showcases that both the genre itself and the sophomore developer still has some growing to do before we see masterpieces. For all those who can settle for less-than-perfect, Tacoma is a sci-fi tale worth playing. | Read review |
Eurogamer | Edwin Evans-Thirlwell | Recommended | 08-01-2017 | A short, sweet, slightly dissatisfying translation of Gone Home’s cosy environmental storytelling into the realm of speculative fiction. | Read review |
Explosion Network | Dylan Blight | 7 / 10 | 08-03-2017 | Exploring and learning about Tacoma’s world and the crew is a lot of fun. I was always interested to learn more; to turn over every object in someone’s room, to pilfer someone locker, to judge their book collection. This is the heart of Tacoma. Fullbright succeeds in what it did so well in Gone Home again, with some fantastic writing and environmental storytelling. | Read review |
Game Informer | Elise Favis | 8.3 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma tells a gripping story about mortality and relationships that makes it a worthwhile experience | Read review |
Game Rant | Dalton Cooper | 3 / 5 stars | 08-08-2017 | Tacoma, the second game from Gone Home studio Fullbright, presents an intriguing narrative that is bogged down by some glaring technical issues | Read review |
Gameblog | Angel Davila | 7 / 10 | 08-12-2017 | Tacoma is a rightful heir to Gone Home. Exploration of the station, with the possibility to learn about the crew through holographic projections, makes us feel we are in a very lively place and the main story, that wants us to think about capitalism and I.A.’s future is captivating, even thought the experience is quite short. | Read review |
GameCrate | Justin Woo | 7.5 / 10 | 08-07-2017 | Tacoma tells a compelling story with a disappointing conclusion. | Read review |
GameGrin | Andrew Duncan | 9.5 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | If you want a great story told well, that will last an afternoon, then get Tacoma. It knows what it wants to be, and it does that perfectly. | Read review |
GameMAG | xtr | 8 / 10 | 08-07-2017 | Tacoma is a beautiful, albeit graphically ascetic, game for fans of the “Walking Simulator” genre and interesting stories, which requires your attention when exploring the environment, listening to dialogue and viewing electronic correspondence. However, it is well translated into Russian, so you’ll need just a desire to know the secret of the space station and enough perseverance. And that’s not a problem for the project, which takes just two hours from start to finish. | Read review |
GamePitt | Rob Pitt | 9 / 10 | 05-07-2018 | Tacoma is a carefully put together piece of art in the narrative-story driven genre of games. The team at Fullbright have taken everything they learnt from Gone Home and improved on everything from the pacing to the delivery of the story, only without such an emotional ending this time. The majority of your time will be investigating spirit-like reconstructions as you look into the crew members lives and create a bond with each of these people who are no longer aboard the ship. Tacoma isn’t a long game, but it’s a game which will stick with you and make you want to go back for more, even if it’s just to listen to the director’s commentary. | Read review |
Gameplanet | Baz Macdonald | 8 / 10 | 08-16-2017 | Tacoma’s augmented reality cast allow it to tell its engaging story in a unique way. It’s a slow burn of a game that deftly interrogates interpersonal relationships in an engaging sci-fi setting. | Read review |
GamePro | Rae Grimm | 73 / 100 | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma is a playable science fiction film with exciting ideas, but it is flat in terms of gameplay and emotion. | Read review |
Gamerheadquarters | Jason Stettner | 6.7 / 10 | 08-03-2017 | I did enjoy Tacoma, it was a compelling story though short and I felt as though it had the potential to be expanded upon. | Read review |
Gamers Heroes | Casey Scheld | 5 / 10 | 08-07-2017 | Tacoma tries to tell a tale in a unique way, but does not quite achieve its vision. The disconnect between the player and the characters, along with the short length, make it a hard sell for fans of walking simulators. | Read review |
GameSkinny | ActionJ4ck | 6 / 10 | 08-04-2017 | Tacoma puts forth a well-crafted and fleshed out world with a narrative that can’t pull its weight. | Read review |
GameSpew | Kim Snaith | 8 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma is a beautifully told story filled with real characters and real emotion that you won’t be able to put down until you’ve experienced it in full. | Read review |
GameSpot | Kallie Plagge | 7 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma tells a story that is made compelling by a well-written and -acted cast of characters, but it’s just short of being truly satisfying. | Read review |
GamesRadar+ | David Roberts | 4 / 5 stars | 08-01-2017 | While some of its threads don’t always come together as neatly as they should, Fullbright’s sophomore effort is a quiet and haunting examination of the ways corporations dehumanize us all. | Read review |
GamingBolt | Ravi Sinha | 8 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | Rather than big and bombastic, Tacoma is small and personal, inviting you to be involved. It’s a strong testament to the power of visual narration and characterization possible in today’s video games despite some nit-picks here and there. | Read review |
GamingTrend | Hunter Wolfe | 75 / 100 | 08-05-2017 | If you’ve played games like Gone Home, Dear Esther or Firewatch, Tacoma is instantly recognizable, but it remains distinct by introducing a wildly exotic space setting and a mechanic that keeps the “look and listen gameplay” from ever becoming a bore. | Read review |
GBAtemp | Alex McAuliffe | 9 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | Fullbright proves that they have mastered interactive storytelling by delivering a uniquely absorbing experience in Tacoma. Allowing players to explore as much or as little as they want perfectly complements the amazing cast of characters and beautiful environments. While it may be short, Tacoma is one of the most unique games I’ve played this year. | Read review |
Geeks Under Grace | Joe Morgan | 7.7 / 10 | 08-28-2017 | Tacoma tells an engaging tale with memorable characters. Exploring the abandoned station and reliving pivotal moments alongside the crew has become an experience I won’t soon forget. | Read review |
God is a Geek | Chris White | 9.5 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | If you’re a big believer in great storytelling in video games, Fullbright has once again nailed it, proving it can be done, and it can be done to the highest standard. | Read review |
Guardian | Jordan Erica Webber | 4 / 5 stars | 08-01-2017 | The makers of indie cult favourite Gone Home have created a linear sci-fi title set in 2088 that feels satisfyingly lived in and free from stereotypes | Read review |
Hardcore Gamer | Kyle LeClair | 4 / 5 stars | 08-04-2017 | Tacoma doesn’t match the excellence of Gone Home in the story department, but nonetheless manages to provide a quick yet engaging adventure. | Read review |
IGN | Miranda Sanchez | 8.5 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma successfully overcomes the challenge of featuring eight characters and making them all interesting in a relatively short game. Using the out-of-sequence AR recordings to learn about the exciting events on Tacoma is a unique way to see every side of a conversation, and it’s one I hope to see catch on. I would have appreciated more time and events that’d have given me a reason to explore more of the beautiful station, but the time I did have in this fascinating hypothetical future was great. | Read review |
IGN Italy | Alessandra Borgonovo | 8 / 10 | 08-03-2017 | Fullbright brings a fascinating hypotetical future, featuring eight characters and making them all interesting in a short time. | Read review |
IGN Spain | Albert Manjón | 8.5 / 10 | 05-08-2018 | Although Tacoma has a less emotive story than Gone Home The Fullbright Company has created a very interesting game. Their approach to humans relations is one of the best in the medium | Read review |
Impulsegamer | Tony Smith | 4 / 5 stars | 08-13-2017 | Tacoma developer Fullbright should be commended on creating a very original game and given they were responsible for Gone Home, it’s great to see them using this premise and adding another layer of complexity with some very clever story telling. | Read review |
Kotaku | Heather Alexandra | Recommended | 09-12-2017 | Tacoma ultimately succeeds as a piece of emotional storytelling. Every moment spent with the crew is spellbinding, as their strengths and struggles play out in painful detail. The experience is sometimes frustrating, but Tacoma leaves a lasting impression. | Read review |
LevelUp | Guillermo Navarrete | 8 / 10 | 08-07-2017 | Tacoma is not for everyone. Even if you like this sort of game, we should warn you that it lasts only about 5 hours. Now, as brief as it is, the experience is also pretty satisfying. You will hardly find any good reason to play it more than once but if you are willing to commit with the story, you will surely enjoy it. | Read review |
Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 6 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | A disappointing follow-up to Gone Home that tells a less interesting and less focused tale, while failing to advance the art of interactive storytelling. | Read review |
New Game Network | Josh Hinke | 72 / 100 | 08-06-2017 | The lean gameplay and mechanics don’t gel with the unfocused narrative, and it’s a singular flaw that Tacoma can’t overcome. There’s plenty to like in the game, but it struggles to find a cohesive theme that brings the experience together. | Read review |
NZGamer | Keith Milburn | 9 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma makes you feel like a digital detective, as you trace the threads of a broad social web of relationships and motivations. | Read review |
Oyungezer Online | Utku Çakır | 7.8 / 10 | 08-16-2017 | Gamers who want to get in the “Walking Simulator” genre but don’t just want to play an interactive movie shouldn’t miss this one. | Read review |
Pardis Game | Seyyed Mohammad Reza Mojab | 7.5 / 10 | 08-17-2017 | Tacoma cannot be called a revolutionary or a very impactful game, but among the similar titles, it offers decent quality that will entertain you for about 2-3 hours with its interesting story. but it will cost you 20 bucks. So if you’re of the adventurous type, be sure not to miss Tacoma. | Read review |
Paste Magazine | Holly Green | 9.5 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | My sole criticism is its length. Given how tied up I was in the suspense, Tacoma’s short play time seemed almost merciful, but I would have liked to have spent more time with each of the characters (even the AI, Odin), or get a more thorough exploration of the game’s intriguing conclusion. That being said, Tacoma is remarkable and I look forward to the impact it will have on narrative devices in videogames. | Read review |
PC Gamer | Andy Kelly | 84 / 100 | 08-01-2017 | A smart and thoughtful science fiction mystery featuring a cast of believable, nuanced characters. | Read review |
PlayStation Universe | Timothy Nunes | 7.5 / 10 | 05-08-2018 | Tacoma has a heart all its own, exploring a myriad of themes and advocating for the human condition, but the branches that sprout from the tree rarely bear fruit. Still, the growth is wonderful, even without that sweet taste you so long for. | Read review |
Polygon | Allegra Frank | 7 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | I continue to think of Tacoma as a story first, but it’s more than that, clearly: It’s an interactive experience, and that plays for and against it. The story is built out of the playback mechanic, which gives birth to the subtler suggestions of what’s really going on with this station. But the playback system means there’s a lot of talking to listen to, and a lot of wireframes to stare at. For a game about an abandoned space station, Tacoma gave me plenty of company. But the moments where I had to reckon with being alone in space were the ones that stuck with me. | Read review |
Post Arcade (National Post) | Chad Sapieha | 8.5 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | The Fullbright Company’s sophomore adventure comes up shy in emotional resonance, but is still an interactive sci-fi story well worth taking in | Read review |
Press Start | Brodie Gibbons | 8 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Fullbright captured lightning in a bottle with Gone Home, and I began Tacoma wondering whether they could hold onto it, as rare as that is. Thankfully, they did. The core mechanics are simple, yet they make sense within the game’s world. Most importantly, they do not over-complicate matters. It allowed us to take in another magnificent Fullbright narrative. | Read review |
PSX Brasil | Francisco Maia | 80 / 100 | 05-09-2018 | The Tacoma space station hides a special and enigmatic story, which can be shallow or deep, according to the player’s investment. There is limited interactivity, typical of recent adventures, but the great storytelling will not leave the user bored. It is brief, without delays, just as it should be, but perhaps not a satisfying investment for those looking for many hours of entertainment. Tacoma is worth it, especially for the surprises that the final moments of the game reserve. | Read review |
Push Square | Alex Stinton | 8 / 10 | 05-08-2018 | With Gone Home representing a key moment in gaming, Tacoma had plenty of potential to suffer from so called “second album syndrome”. While it never manages to hit the same emotional highs – or lows – as its predecessor, it still stands out from the crowd, mainly through the implementation of some nicely interactive AR scenes to deliver its key story moments. While there are certainly other complaints you could level at Tacoma – such as its rigid linearity and how it occasionally falls into genre clichés – these can be easily forgotten as developer Fullbright once again proves where its strengths lie: with down-to-earth characters and thought-provoking storytelling. | Read review |
Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Philippa Warr | Recommended | 08-01-2017 | As with Fullbright’s previous game, Gone Home, Tacoma won’t be for everyone, but it’s a masterclass in environmental and gradual storytelling. It weaves an intriguing story against the backdrop of a believable near-future culture. | Read review |
Shacknews | Ozzie Mejia | 6 / 10 | 08-08-2017 | Tacoma lays the foundation for a truly great story, but a short length and some unexplored ideas leave it feeling lacking. | Read review |
Slant Magazine | Justin Clark | 3.5 / 5 stars | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma is a master class in the art of giving you the tools to experience a fascinating place through others’ eyes. | Read review |
SpazioGames | Gianluca Arena | 8 / 10 | 05-13-2018 | The story, the characters and the dialogue of Tacoma demostrate the evolution of Fullbright. The interaction system and the complete control over the story is interesting, while the mid-sections are dull and boring. | Read review |
TechnoBuffalo | Eric Frederiksen | 3 / 5 stars | 08-13-2017 | Tacoma is worth the time I spent with it, even if it isn’t the same holy-crap-what-did-I-just-play experience provided by Gone Home. | Read review |
TechRaptor | Joey Thurmond | 8 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | While some may find Tacoma’s length and lack of gameplay depth off-putting, it still manages to feel full in itself. A grounded, futuristic setting serves as Fullbright’s most creative stage yet for thorough environmental storytelling that shines with an ordinary yet endearingly authentic cast of characters. | Read review |
Telegraph | Tom Hoggins | 3 / 5 stars | 08-07-2017 | As you step aboard the lunar station Tacoma, magnetic boots thunking to the metallic floor, you would be forgiven for a sense of deja vu. | Read review |
The Jimquisition | Jim Sterling | Recommended | 05-09-2018 | Tacoma is Fullbright’s latest interactive drama. It’s in space and it’s pretty okay, 10/10. | Read review |
TheSixthAxis | Dave Irwin | 7 / 10 | 08-02-2017 | Tacoma has some great characterisation and is a very different breed of science fiction, but my enjoyment was sapped by one key mistake in how the story was told. It also has issues with loading and can be somewhat bland to look at, but looking around you, the environmental storytelling is top-notch. By the end, I’d become invested in these characters, but not necessarily their plight. | Read review |
TheXboxHub | Gareth Brierley | 4 / 5 stars | 08-11-2017 | Tacoma is a high quality walking sim that tells a brilliant story of hope, whilst delivering complex and interesting characters. | Read review |
Twinfinite | Chris Jecks | 4 / 5 stars | 08-01-2017 | If you’re looking for sci-fi action and alien blasting, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you’re in the market for a fascinating narrative and an intriguing space station to lose yourself in, you could do a heck of a lot worse than Tacoma. | Read review |
USgamer | Caty McCarthy | 3.5 / 5 stars | 08-01-2017 | It’s rare to see game worlds as intricately detailed as the one in the space station of Tacoma. Even with its mostly lackluster characters and a story that never quite sinks its hooks into you, it’s a spacecation you’ll want to make time for. Hell, in what other game can I set up and play a game of billiards by myself as panicked digital ghosts worry about their livelihood? None, really. | Read review |
VideoGamer | Alice Bell | 8 / 10 | 08-02-2017 | Tacoma is a quiet, lovely, yet slightly melancholy exploration of humanity struggling in a corporate vacuum, and one that proves Fullbright still has an eye for detail. | Read review |
Washington Post | Christopher Byrd | Recommended | 08-02-2017 | “Tacoma’s” core appeal comes from watching the characters behave differently as they move between areas and interact with each other. | Read review |
We Got This Covered | Jordan Hurst | 3 / 5 stars | 08-01-2017 | Tacoma’s top-notch story and presentation are arranged into an inappropriate structure that will dull the experience, even for fans of exploration games. | Read review |
Game Info
Tacoma is a sci-fi narrative adventure set aboard a high-tech space station in the year 2088. Explore every detail of how the station’s crew lived and worked, finding the clues that add up to a gripping story of trust, fear, and resolve in the face of disaster. From the creators of Gone Home.
RELEASE DATES:
DEVELOPER(S):
- Fullbright
PUBLISHER(S):
- Fullbright
GENRES:
- Adventure
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- n/a
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- -
DLC:
- -
BUNDLED IN:
- -
DIRECTOR(S):
- -
PRODUCER(S):
- -
DESIGNER(S):
- -
PROGRAMMER(S):
- -
ARTIST(S):
- -
WRITER(S):
- -
COMPOSER(S):
- -
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- n/a
DLC:
- n/a
BUNDLED IN:
- n/a
DIRECTOR(S):
- n/a
PRODUCER(S):
- n/a
DESIGNER(S):
- n/a
PROGRAMMER(S):
- n/a
ARTIST(S):
- n/a
WRITER(S):
- n/a
COMPOSER(S):
- n/a
People Also Like
Follow VSG on Instagram
Your go-to for the news, reviews and info you need from the gaming industry. Without access. Without favor. Without interference.